Winter Chill Out ticket lottery opens today

Editor's note: Justin Dietz is a Register correspondent representing CPFoodBlog.com and @CPFoodBlog on Twitter. Winter has set in, and even though Cedar Point does not open its gates for the 2023 season until May 6, the park is making improvements and changes as fast as it can. Recently, it completed the track installation of the new Wild Mouse roller coaster. Matterhorn and Scrambler have been removed from their old locations and are being prepped for reinstallation near the Boardwalk area. Then, of course, work continues on the multi-purpose Grand Pavilion. While all the above changes have been previously announced, Cedar Point always holds some new details to reveal at the Winter Chill Out event benefiting A Kid Again. Occurring every February, the event gives guests the chance to casually walk around the park during the offseason and tour some behind-the-scenes areas to see how the park operates. Guests are also given a meal and a chance to sit down with park officials for a question-and-answer session that reveals some of the unannounced new items for the 2023 season. The Winter Chill Out event has gotten very popular and sells out each year. Season passes are not valid for the event, and each guest, regardless of age, is required to purchase a ticket. New for 2023, Cedar Point is introducing new details for tickets and access to Winter Chill Out. For starters, the event will now take place over two days. Guests can purchase tickets for either day, Feb. 25-26. While in the past Cedar Point posted ticket sales directly to its website, and it became a frenzy of trying to get tickets, the park is implementing a new lottery system for 2023. Starting today through Friday, guests will be able to visit the Cedar Point Winter Chill Out page and register for the chance to buy tickets. Guests chosen in the lottery will be able to purchase tickets to Winter Chill Out via a link sent out the week of Jan. 16. Each person will be able to purchase up to four tickets. No doubt guests will see and hear about a lot of new changes coming for the 2023 season, including lots of changes to the dining and maybe even a glimpse into some of the work being performed at the former Top Thrill Dragster site.